Cover for evaporated-milk cans or the like.



P. O. K. WERNER.

COVER FOR EVAPORATED MILK CANS OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2a, 1913.

1,1 1 3,270. Patented Oct. 13, 1914..

. F. GKXYLRHERA UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRIEDRICH C.

K. WERNER, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

COVER FOR EVAPORATED-MILK CANS OR THE LIKE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH C. K. VVER- NER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Covers for Evaporated-Milk Cans or the like, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a holder for cans of condensed milk, evaporated milk and the like when dispensing the contents'of the can, the object of the invention being to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby the contents of the can may be used as desired without any danger or possibility of the milk oozing out and running upon the exterior of the can in such a manner as to produce a dirty and insanitary condition and to render the can unsightly in appearance. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing holder for cans which excludes air, flies, and dust from the interior of the can, and thereby enables the contents thereof to be preserved in a clean and sanitary condition after the can has been opened. This completely overcomes the objections to the usual method of opening a can of condensed milk or the like by punching two holes in the top of the can, the admission of air to the interior of a can so punched causing the contents of the can to be rapidly 'de stroyed if not immediately used, and the milk invariably oozing through the punched openings upon the top and sides of the can so as to attract insects and flies and produce a very unsightly appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing holder for cans which is simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can be instantly applied to a can with out any preliminary openirg of the same, and which enables the contents of the can to be withdrawn as desired without Waste or leakage.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claim.

specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 23, 1913.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

Serial No. 786,238.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a dispensing holder for cans constructed in accordance with the invention, the cover being shown as tilted upwardly into a raised position preparatory to forcing it downwardly into engagement with a can which has been placed in the receptacle or container of the device. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the position assumed by the parts when the cover has been forced downwardly into engagement with the can, and Fig. 3 is a top planview of the device.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the receptacle or container within which the can A of milk or like is designed to be placed, the said container 1 preferably corresponding in size and shape to the can A so as to retain the can in proper position, although the'can is designed to fit loosely within the container so as to be readily slipped into and out of position. A cover 2 is provided for the container 1 and in the present instance a bar 3 is shown as extending transversely across the top of the cover. O ne end of this bar is extended and suitably bent to provide a handle 4, while the opposite end of the bar is extended downwardly and has a hinged connection at 5 with a hinge lug 6 which projects from one side of the container at a point toward the top thereof. The opposite side of the said container 1 is provided at a point toward the bottom thereof with a shoulder 7 adapted to receive a corresponding hook 8 at the free end of the handle 4, the cover 2 being held in a closed position when the hook 8 is brought into engagement with the shoulder 7. An outlet or dispensing tube 9 passes through the'cover 2 and transverse. bar 3 at a point toward the hinged end thereof, the upper extremity of the dispensing tube projecting beyond the cover and being threaded to receive the pouring spout 10 which is screwed thereon. The extremity of the said pourin spout may be cut off at an angle and is pre erably provided with a self-closing flap valve 11 which serves to exclude air, dust and insects from the interior of the can when the device is not in immediate use. The inner end of the dispensing tube 9 projects downwardly below the cover and is cut off at an inclination as indicated at 9* to provide a sharp pointed end 12 adapted to puncture and penetrate the top of the can A. This sharp pointed end 12 and the end of the dispensing tube 9 is curved on the arc of a circle, having the hinge 5 as the center thereof so that when the cover 2 of the container is forced downwardly fro-m the position shown by Fig. 1 to the position shown by Fig. 2, the pointed end 12 will penetrate the top of the can so that the beveled end 9 of the tube will puncture and enter the top of the can.

A compressible washer 13 of rubber or other suitable material is fitted upon the dispensing tube 9 so as to be compressed between the top 2 of the container and the top of the can A when the said top of the container is forced into a closed position. This rubber washer 13 thus produces an air tight joint between th top of the can A and the dispensing tube 9 so that any leakage of the contents of the can at this point is impossible, and so that air is effectively excluded from the interior of the can. An air tube 14 is secured to the cover 2 and transverse bar 3 toward the swinging edge thereof, the said air pipe having a sharp pointed end 15 so as to penetrate and puncture the top of the can when the cover 2 is swung into a closed position, andthe upper end of the air pipe communicating with an opening in the bar 3, the said opening being surrounded by a valve seat 16. A valve 17 is mounted for cooperation with the valve seat 16 to control the admission of air to the can through the air pipe 14, the said valve 17 being mounted upon one end of a finger lever 18 which is pivotally mounted between its ends at 19. A spring 20 engages the finger lev r 18 and. normally holds the valve 17 in a cl sed position, although the extremity of the finger lever 18 pro ects over the handle 4 so as to be readil engaged by the thumb of the hand by whic the said handle is grasped. A compressible washer 21 of rubber or other suitable material surrounds the air inlet tube 14 so as to be compressed between the top of the can A and the cover 2 and provide an air tight joint between the can and the tube 14 when the cover is in a closed position. It will also be observed that the curved pointed end of the dispensing tube 9 is provided with a lateral opening 22, thereby enablin the contents of the can to be withdrawn t rough the dispensing tube to substantially the last drop contained in the can.

In the operation of the device the cover 2 of the container is swung upwardly and the can A containing condensed milk or the like inserted in the container, no preliminary opening or adjustment of the can being necessary. The cover 2 is then forced downwardly into a closed position until the hook or latch 8 at the end of the handle 4 engages the shoulder 7. As the cover 2 is thus forced downwardly, the sharp pointed end of the dispensing tube 9 first punctures and penetrates the top of the can A, the pointed end 15 of the air tube 14 subsequently puncturing and penetrating the opposite side of the top of the can in a like manner. Both the dispensing tube 9 and air inlet tube 14: are thus placed in communication with the interior of the can, the rubber washer 13 providing an air tight joint between the can and the dispensing tube 9, while the rubber washer 21 provides a similar air tight joint between the air inlet tube 14 and the top of the can. When itis desired to withdraw the contents of the can, the operator presses downwardly upon the rear end of the finger lever 18 with the thumb or one of the fingers of his hand so as to open the valve 17 and admit air to the interior of the can, the can being simultaneously tilted so as to cause the milk or other liquid contents thereof to flow outwardly through the pouring spout 10. As soon as the desired quantity of the milk has been withdrawn, the container 1 is brought back into an upright position and the finger lever 18 released so as to permit the spring 20 to close the air valve 17. The flap valve 11 at the end of the pouring spout 10 also drops into a closed position so that the can is effectively closed and air, dust, flies and other insects excluded from the interior thereof. At the same time all leakage and waste of the milk or liquid contents of the can is prevented and the exterior of the can maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A dispensing holder for evaporated milk cans and the like, including a can receiving member, a hinge lug projecting from one side thereof, a latch shoulder projecting from the opposite side thereof, a cover, a transverse bar extending across and applied to the cover, one end of the bar projecting beyond the edge of the cover and having a pivotal connection with the before mentioned hinge lug, while the opposite end of the bar extends beyond the cover and terminates in a handle having a hook member at the end thereof adapted to engage with the before mentioned latch shoulder to hold In testimon whereof I afiix my signature the cover in posltion, a dispensingtube carin presence 0 two Witnesses. ried by the cover and having a polnted end adapted to penetrate the top of the can, FRIEDRICH WERNER 5 and an air inlet tube carried by the cover Witnesses:

and having a pointed end adapted to pene- \VILLIAM OSTERMEYER,

trate the can. CHAS. J. BARBUTI. 

